Bears' linebacker situation unclear

Lance Briggs hopes the Bears can keep their linebacker group intact after the lockout. (Jose M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune)

Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are good enough to make the tackles of three linebackers, and if the season started tomorrow they would need to be.

That's because the Pro Bowl stars of the Bears are the only players at their positions the team has under contract. Of course, the team will sign more linebackers between now and when the NFL is ready to start playing games.

Who those linebackers are, however, remains one of the biggest questions for the Bears.

Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, Brian Iwuh and Rod Wilson all had expiring contracts that coincided with the NFL's labor impasse.

"To me, you look at how close we came to the Super Bowl and you look at the guys who helped us get there," said Briggs after an appearance for Gatorade at Brother Rice High School. "When the lockout is over, we'll go get these guys.

"All of those guys — and you have Anthony Adams, Danieal Manning — are a vital part of our success. We need to make sure these guys are going to be Bears and they're going to help us win a championship."

Adding to the uncertainty is the health status of Tinoisamoa, who started 10 games alongside Briggs and Urlacher last season.

Tinoisamoa, who will turn 30 in July, had a third surgery on his right knee earlier this offseason. The surgery was to repair wear and tear, and from all indications Tinoisamoa is doing well in his rehabilitation and strength building. He was sidelined three games after arthroscopic surgery in early December and he missed nearly all of the 2009 season after injuring the knee twice.

His intention clearly is to play this season, but no one can say for sure if he will be ready for the pounding of training camp. Even in a best case scenario this summer, Tinoisamoa likely would need a modified practice schedule for training camp.

The Bears cannot sign Tinoisamoa because of the lockout, and they might not want to because they can't be sure about his knee. His chances of returning might be enhanced if the lockout continues into July or longer because then the Bears will need a starter who knows their system, and Tinoisamoa might have enough time to prove his knee is ready for an NFL season.

Another strong option — especially after a protracted work stoppage — is Roach. He started six games in 2010 and has started 30 in his career. He turns 26 next month and has played mostly on the strong side.

"They make us the best linebacking corps in the game," Briggs said. "When you need a Pisa, you need a Nick. When you need a Nick, you need a Pisa. You have to have both of them."

The NFC North rival Lions are holding player-run practices this week with about 35 in attendance. The Saints and Cowboys have had workouts with more than 40 players in attendance. The Bears have yet to do so and it's difficult to quantify what value — if any — such practices have.

"Those teams feel like they need to do that," Briggs said. "I don't think us being on the field defensively now versus after the (lockout ends) is going to make us a better or a worse defense. We're all working out, being ready, being prepared for the lockout to be over. That is what is important."